“It Hurts Me Too” by Dylan, What is this progression? Blues?

[Larry K]

I love “It Hurts Me Too” as arranged by Bob Dylan.

The early version by Bill Broonzy and the later version by John Mahall seem like straightforward 8 bar blues in “C” but Dylan’s version replaces the V – “G” with the VI -“A.” Is there a name for that LOL? I love the song and the idea behind it and want to learn it with a solo or two but not sure how much Dylan’s arrangements will impact all that. I’m still pretty new to it all.

Love the site and all the help I’ve been given.

[Jean-Michel G]

Hi Larry,
The simple answer is that the progression C – A7 – Ab7 – C is based on the chromatic movements of the chord tones to achieve the resolution, instead of being based on the more traditional V – I resolution.
It’s similar to whzt happens with dim7 chords.

The relationship between C and A is an example of what is called a “chromatic mediant” relationship. This occurs when two chords whose roots are a (major or minor) third apart, share a common tone.
In C major, the diatonic mediant chords are Am and Em; the chromatic mediants are therefore E and A.
In this case, C and A are a minor third apart and have the common tone E. In “It Hurts Me Too” the melody note is a G, making A an A7 chord.

The really interesting bit is why Ab7 resolves so nicely to C…
Technically, it is not a 7th chord but rather an augmented sixth chord (Ab C Eb F#) which, in the Classical period, was considered a pre-dominant chord that would therefore resolve to a dominant chord (V7) though a I chord in second inversion.
So, in the classical era, we would have seen: C – Ab7 – C/G – G7.
But later, in the Romantic period and beyond, the direct resolution to the I chord became much more frequent. Wagner, Brahms, and later Debussy and many more all did it.
It is not that frequent in contemporary music, although the hawaïan pop music of the 60’s used it a lot.

I hope this helps.

[Larry K]

Wow! That’s all a bit beyond me but super interesting – makes me want to learn more – Thank you.

[Lotanna E]

I followed Active melody on youtube and I really love it. Please, I’ll love to upgrade to the premium. But I’ll like to know if I’ll be able to download the second part of the videos if I upgrade to premium.

Thanks.

[charjo]

Hi Lotanna,
You can download the backing track, often at full and a slower tempo, and the printed tab. The second video and the slow version video are only available for streaming. There is also the Soundslice tab viewer. This a moving, adjustable tempo tab that can be looped in full or in sections. Brian has even put the backing track, when appropriate, into the Soundslice and this is the most efficient way to learn each lesson. Brian also has a beginner and beginner blues course as well as mini-lessons. I think all members would tell you that Active Melody is a great value.
John

[GnLguy]

Great tune, the first time that I heard Elmore James’ version, it raised the hair on the back of my neck LOL and I must have rewound that cassette and dozen times and kept listening to it

Let me throw you curve with this one. Seems that melody was pretty popular and others “borrowed” it in one way or another. The way that Tampa Red played it, it seemed to have some of Sittin’ On Top Of the World mixed into

[sunjamr]

Very cool. Reminds me of “You’d better come…in my kitchen…because it’s going to be raining outside” by Robert Johnson.

Sunjamr Steve

[Lotanna E]

Okay John. Thanks for the reply. I was actually thinking I could get it downloaded like I do from youtube.

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